Vaginal soreness

[Jojams]

I am experiencing very sore vagina internal and externally around my vulva. I had thrush back in July and had a few repeat courses of the anti fungal treatment and also steroid cream but have had a recent retest for thrush which was negative and don't currently have itching. To be honest I wonder if the thrush had gone well before they gave me further treatment for it! I have been examined by the GP and seen the sexual health clinic and all other tests /swabs have been clear so no reason found. The both commented that my vulva looked very dry and vaginal entrance very red. I am avoiding all irritants can think of - wearing only white cotton knickers, washing only with water etc. I also suffer from ibs and the last few months my recurrent piles are really bad so this pain seems to make everything worse.

The vaginal soreness has meant very painful sex. Sometimes the general soreness doesn't seem as bad but sex still very painful and at the moment seem to be having a bad flare up and can see my vulva and vaginal entrance look very red and are sore all the time . Although to me my vulva looks red now the sexual health nurse said the vulval skin looked healthy but very dry at my appointment 3 weeks ago.

The GP and SH nurse suggested moisturiser for the vulva and I have been doing some research but because of my sensitive skin and the soreness I am very wary of what to use as do not want to risk making it worse. But also wonder if it is dryness that is causing the soreness ?? I should mention that I don't have regular period as I have mirena coil and progesterone pill to help manage endometriosis. I do get occasional spotting which the GP aware of and my smears are up to date.

The sexual health nurse suggested i talk to my GP about topical oestrogen treatment as she wondered if it might be dryness caused by possible perimenopause. I am 46, 47 in January. Could this be the case? I am not sure if I am having other perimenopause symptoms or not.. Occasionally I am clammy at night but sometimes use a heatpack so might just be this??

The GP prescribed some imvaggis vaginal pessaries and suggested i try a non oestrogen moisturiser as well externally. I haven't started the pessaries yet as I have a few concerns - I don't want to make it worse if I am irritated by them also I am concerned what if it isn't perimenopause? Any advice or thoughts would be welcome.

Should I try this oestrogen treatment and if it doesn't work insist on referral to a gynaecologist or vulval skin specialist? The thing is they haven't so far found a clear reason or diagnosis and it is starting to make me miserable especially as it affects my sex life with my husband.

[wobblybee Administrator]

Perimenopause can trigger all sorts of problems including vaginal dryness….it is possible that because of your age this is at the root of the problem.

It isn’t an easy matter to test for perimenopause because hormones fluctuate. So…it seems reasonable to try the suggested treatment…if you get no relief it’s up to your GP to take things further.

[Jojams in reply to wobblybee]

Thank you for your reply and advice really appreciated.

[moo196]

I'd see if you could get an appointment with a gynecologist or dermatologist to diagnose properly.I didn't and lost a lot of anatomy which has been extremely distressing.

Things change as we get older.

good luck

[Jojams in reply to moo196]

Thank you for your reply much appreciated. I was wondering about asking for a referral but wondering how long it may take in the current nhs waiting list situation.

[moo196 in reply to Jojams]

I paid privately.

[Belle76]

it sounds like lack of oestrogen. Try the oestrogen cream it should help.

There’s also a company called yes and they make products for the vaginal area that are better than what you can buy in the shops.

You could also try HRT look up Dr Louise Newson or menopausal not mad. I find these people very informative.

You could also look up vagina atrophy

Good luck

[Jojams in reply to Belle76]

Thank you so much for all the suggestions and help. In a way I'm hoping it is that and then at least it's a clear diagnosis and that there's something which can help (hopefully). !

[Dollymae06]

Sounds like Vaginal Atrophy caused by lack of estrogen due to hormone deficiency. I use Vagifem pessaries 3 times weekly it really does work . You have to use the loading dose first every day for 2 weeks then use twice weekly after that. Put some gel on the end of the applicator to insert it as it will be sore at first when going in. I use YES water based gel from Amazon works well for this. I hope this has helped you and come back to let us know. Take care.xx

[Jojams in reply to Dollymae06]

Thank you Dollymae it's good to hear from someone who has been using the same treatment. This is a very supportive network. It's not an easy thing to deal with and I don't feel able to discuss it with friends so great that this is available.

[Menopausal7]

hi

I’m 48 years old and have vaginal atrophy, soreness, sometimes a burning feeling, if i eat too much sugar or have alcohol, exercise, wear tight clothing or jeans or even having sex can make it flare up more, it’s taken a while to get to the bottom of what’s going on, I have vagifem pessaries where you start with a loading dose (usually 10 days) then change to twice a week (some women need this every other day or two - three times a week) also some need an oestrogen based cream externally too. I use the water based YES VM at the minute and in between doses of vagifem balance active moisturising pessaries (not the BV treatment ones) every woman is different regarding what regime works for them. So try and see what helps you. There’s a Facebook group called vaginal atrophy that you can request to join for support,

I got repeated thrush for a long time and also BV, and was given canesten HC which didn’t help at all, but atrophy causes thinning of tissues which can leave you more prone to these infections and declining oestrogen can cause mucous membranes to dry out, which is why my sinuses are so bad along with dry skin and eyes. Oh the joys of heading towards menopause.

I’m under gynae clinic due to excessively large fibroids, suspected endometriosis and cysts on my ovaries, it’s likely I’ll eventually have a hysterectomy, looking back at symptoms it’s likely I’ve been in perimenopause for over 10 years now.

Hope you get something that helps x

[Jojams in reply to Menopausal7]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and for the advice it's all really helpful. I hope you get some answers from gynae. I have endometriosis and had an endometrioma on my ovary removed a few years ago. So much many of us women go through! Take care x

[BabblingBrooks]

This was an issue for me during menopause but instead of thrush I kept getting UTI’s. Kept waking in the night to have a wee.

To cut a long story short I’m now on HRT pessaries at night, twice weekly.

It’s worked a treat and sex is no longer painful either.

It could definitely be menopause causing this or alternatively I kept getting thrush a few years back, turned out I was anaemic caused by undiagnosed fibroids which triggered the thrush.

I definitely think pessaries could help, worth a go anyway. I don’t take any other HRT, my other symptoms I can tolerate.

[Jojams in reply to BabblingBrooks]

Thank you it's encouraging that oestrogen pessaries helped you and has given me the confidence to give them a try.

[Naturopathic]

This sounds like you are low on oestrogen and in peri-menopause. You can manage it with a good diet and exercise, rather than taking HRT. The pessaries may help, as they provide localised oestrogen to improve dryness.

I would definitely try to clean up your diet, reduce sugar and increase fibre. Thrush unfortunately remains with us for a long time and can be difficult to get rid of it. I only got rid of recurrent thrush when I gave up sugar and improved my diet overall. Candida can hide in the body and keep on recurring.

I also use Saccharomyces Boulardii supplements regularly and find it keeps thrush at bay, as it helps to balance the vaginal microbiome. Endless treatments into the vagina will disturb your natural microbes down there, which help to keep the vagina healthy. You could also take a pro-biotic for a few weeks too, to re-colonise your microbiome overall.

[Jojams in reply to Naturopathic]

Hi and thank you too for the advice. I have a pretty healthy diet already as if I don't have enough fibre it causes issues with my ibs. There could be room for further improvement though. I agree that endless treatments in the vagina are not good and wonder if the GP should have retested me sooner rather than just giving me more thrush medication!Glad you have found what helps you.

[Mel5523]

Hi, I too experienced this, I ended up having a TV ultrasound which picked up a cyst in my vaginal wall. I'm 55 and menopausal, the drs were all surprised as the cyst is only found in women that haven't gone through the menopause. Maybe ask your GP to send you for a tv ultrasound.

[Jojams]

Hi sorry for the slow reply I'm sorry to hear that had a vaginal cyst i didn't know you could get one there. I hope you are feeling better? I have been using Imvaggis pessaries for three months now. It hasn't resolved my issues so far though. Last time I tried intercourse it was still painful around the vaginal entrance. I still get burning and stinging too although some days it feels better than others. Wondering whether to keep trying the pessaries for longer or going back to GP. Thanks for your reply.